UPSC IAS Syllabus 2019 Explained

Mar 11, 2019,
Athar Raza

IAS Syllabus 2019 is notified in the UPSC Civil Service Notification 2019 on 19 Feb 2019. The IAS Syllabus as notified by the UPSC in a very lucid manner by just writing the subject names and not explaining the details of the topics. IAS Syllabus is decided by the relevancy of the topic for the IAS Exam.

IAS Syllabus 2019 can guide the IAS Preparation for the UPSC Civil Services(IAS) Prelims Exam 2019. IAS Prelims is the first stage of the UPSC IAS Exam. There is a common saying that the IAS Syllabus constitutes everything under the Sun including Sun and outer galaxies. However, the reality is that the IAS Syllabus can limit the horizontal and vertical expansion of the IAS Preparation for the IAS Exam.

The candidates should download the IAS Syllabus 2019 and pasted it on the study table so that it can guide the locus of the IAS preparation. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) notifies the IAS Syllabus in its official notification of Civil Services Notification each year.

There are separate syllabuses for the IAS Prelims and IAS Main Exam but we can say the IAS Main Syllabus is a mammoth expansion of the IAS Prelims Syllabus. IAS Prelims Syllabus is given in a very short form in the UPSC Notification but in reality, it is a vast set of detailed topics of various subjects.

IAS Syllabus is a torch bearer for the IAS Preparation because it sets the locus of the studies of each and every aspect of the IAS Exam. The candidates must read, understand and even learn the UPSC IAS Syllabus but here also reading between the lines play a very important role in the IAS Exam. The word “Indian Polity” in the UPSC IAS Syllabus is just two words, but it means all the past and present constitutional amendments, the Political system of India, including all the important functionaries, the Judicial system in India and all the other related topics.

IAS Syllabus is the key for the IAS Exam because it decides the horizontal and vertical boundary of the IAS Exam and hence can be seen as the opportunity for clearing the IAS Exam. Right interpretations of IAS Syllabus can increase the chances of success in IAS Exam.

UPSC IAS Exam has two stages but the candidates perceive it as a three-stage exam that is IAS Prelims, IAS Mains and IAS Interview. The IAS Syllabus for all the three stages of exam is different from one another and hence needs a deeper look to understand the requirement of each stage of IAS Exam.

In IAS Prelims, UPSC tests the analytical ability as well the ability to understand the logic of the candidates. In IAS Prelims Exam, there are only two question papers. First is the General Studies paper I and the second is General Studies Paper II. Both papers have the maximum tie limit of two hours and the General Studies Paper II, which is popularly called as IAS CSAT, is only qualifying in nature.

IAS Main Exam has four general studies paper, two compulsory language paper, One Essay paper and two papers of Optional subject. It is a descriptive type of exam and has totally enhanced version of IA Prelims exam.UPSC Civil Services (IAS) Syllabus is one of the essential components of UPSC IAS Exam. A better understanding of UPSC Civil Services (IAS)syllabus must be a priority for IAS aspirants at the beginning of IAS preparation. A better strategy for IAS Exam can be made out only after the understanding of UPSC Syllabus.

UPSC Civil Services (IAS) syllabus is so vast and it has been designed in a manner so that the IAS aspirant’s expertise and proficiency in various subjects can easily be assessed. The main objective of the syllabus is to test the mental ability of IAS aspirants and their preparedness to deal with the issues arising out in a society or in a country as a whole. For this, an IAS aspirant must have a clear and coherent understanding of various issues which affects the masses in the country. Time to time, we provide better guidelines and every possible solution for the IAS aspirants so that they can find no difficulty while preparing for IAS Exam. For the beginners, our strategy and continued guidance will help them a lot to find a better way to crack the IAS Exam.

The UPSC Civil Services (IAS) syllabus is divided into three sections in a line with the three phases of Civil Services IAS Exam i.e. IAS Prelims, IAS Mains and IAS Interview (PT). By studying and analysing the UPSC Civil Services (IAS) syllabus and the previous year question papers, an IAS aspirant can partially decode the pattern of UPSC IAS Exam. Hence, they can chalk out the better strategy which can take less time to crack this coveted exam. So, while doing IAS preparation, an IAS aspirant should keep the syllabus beside them so that they can avoid the irrelevant topic by picking up the most relevant topics for UPSC IAS Exam. Now, go through the UPSC Civil Services (IAS) Syllabus for IAS Prelims Exam and IAS Mains Exam.

As per the trend followed by UPSC in the last few years, more focus is on current affairs. The IAS aspirants must prepare every subject in a manner so that every happening related to the static part must be covered during the process of IAS preparation.

8. Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last item in the Syllabus of Paper-II) will be tested through passages from English language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper.

Indian Heritage and Culture, Indian History, World History, World Geography, Indian Society, Important Geo-physical phenomena

250

3

GS Paper II

Governance, Indian Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations, Welfare Schemes, Statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies, Role of civil services in a democracy, India’s relation with neighbour countries, International institutions,

250

4

GS Paper III

Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Indian Economy and its various sectors

Government Budgeting

Land Reforms

Inclusive Growth

Security and Disaster Management

250

5

GS Paper IV

Ethics and Human Interface

Attitude

Aptitude

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

Public/Civil service value

Probity in Governance

Case study on above topics

250

6

Indian Language Paper

(i) Comprehension of given passages(ii) Précis Writing(iii) Usage and Vocabulary(iv) Short Essays(v) Translation from English to the Indianlanguage and vice-versa

300

7

English

Comprehension of given passagesPrécis WritingUsage and VocabularyShort Essays

The UPSC Civil Services examination comprises of three successive stages:

(i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Exam.

(ii) Civil Services Mains Examination (Written) for the selection of candidates for the next level of UPSC IAS Exam.

(iii) Civil Services Personality Test (PT)

IAS Prelims Scheme of Exam

IAS Prelims Exam is a one-day affair comprised of two objective type papers of two hours each. The UPSC Conducts the IAS Prelims at the various centres across the nation. The first paper is General Studies - I ask about the questions from the General Studies topics as given in the IAS Prelims Syllabus. The General Studies Paper II asks the questions from the aptitude topics as given in the IAS Prelims GS II syllabus. Due to this, GS II paper is also called as the CSAT Paper.

Scheme of IAS Main Examination

The written examination will consist of the following papers:

Name of Paper

Max. Marks

Paper-A (One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution)

300 Marks

Paper-B English

300 Marks

Papers to be counted for merit in IAS Exam:

Name of Paper

Subject of Paper

Max. Marks

Paper-I

Essay

250 Marks

Paper-II

General Studies-I(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)

250 Marks

Paper-III

General Studies -II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)

The IAS aspirants must take the UPSC syllabus seriously because it plays an important role in IAS selection. An IAS aspirant can find a lot of books recommended for UPSC IAS Exam in the market but it is very important to be selective when it comes to picking up a right and relevant books for IAS.